Brilliant Stripes storm to FA Trophy Semi-Finals
by Ayrton Galea - 16th February 2015
Birkirkara FC booked their place in the semi-final of the Malta FA Trophy, as a brace by Nassir Maachi and another goal by Kurt Zammit gave them a comfortable 3-0 victory over Pieta Hotspurs FC.
It was a brilliant display by the Stripes, and the January signings shone through. Nassir Maachi stole the limelight with two goals, while Mauricio Mazzetti was as solid as a rock in the defence. Rowen Muscat also enjoyed a great game in midfield with a high work rate.
There was more satisfaction for the Stripes, as Birkirkara FC's Youth Academy product Kurt Zammit netted his first Senior Team goal, with an excellent solo-action when after replacing Maachi he scored Birkirkara's third and final goal. Leon Muscat, another Youth Academy product, made his senior team debut as a substitute, late in the game.
It was a match where the Stripes dictated matters right from the start. They made their intentions clear by taking the lead after just twelve minutes. Pieta showed great resilience but it was not enough to stop the Stripes.
The return of Ryan Scicluna from suspension was one of the two changes made by the Birkirkara Coach Paul Zammit, as he replaced Edward Herrera, while Nassir Maachi replaced Matheus Bissi.
The Birkirkara Head Coach was once again left with a restricted number of available strikers as Rafael Ledesma, Eliandro Gonzaga and Ellinton Morais were all ruled-out injured. Goalkeeper Mirza Hamzabegovic is also still recovering from injury. On the plus side, after missing the last game, Gareth Sciberras was named in the eighteen-man squad.
The starting 4-2-3-1 formation featured Haber defending the posts with Mazzetti and Vukanac forming the central-backs supported by Camenzuli and Muscat who patrolled the side-backs. Fenech and Muscat were set in midfield, behind Agius who was given an advanced role. Nassir Maachi and Ryan Scicluna started on the wings supporting lone striker Shola Shodiya.
The First Half
The Stripes kicked off with all guns blazing. Nassir Maachi advanced down the left side to see his cross-shot hitting the wood-work, after just twenty-seven seconds.
Birkirkara continued to dictate matters. On the eighth minute, Zach Muscat sent the ball in the path of Edmond Agius, who had his in-swinging shot ending just over the bar. Two minutes later, Camenzuli unzipped the defence with a great through ball and Shodiya's first-time shot scratched past the post.
The Stripes' strong start was rewarded after twelve minutes. A cross from the left was short-cleared by Pieta, with the ball rolling to the path of Shodiya. The Nigerian forward sent an inviting cross that Maachi headed home to score his first goal with our Club.
Pieta made a reaction when Claudio Frances picked-up a loose ball from the Birkirkara midfield and his shot was turned into a corner-kick following a fine save by an alert Justin Haber.
However, Birkirkara stayed superior and they attempted the second goal just past mid the first half. Shola Shodiya was sent through on the right flank but his threatening cross was turned into a corner. From the resulting set-piece, Mazzetti had his header saved by Cassar.
Mazzetti and Vukanac were dealing with the rare attacks that came their way, and the midfield trio of Agius, Fenech and Muscat were working tirelessly. The runs of Maachi and Shodiya were troubling the Hotspurs' rear-guard to no end.
A shot by Ricardo Costa from distance was parried by Haber on the thirty-ninth minute while three minutes later, Zach Muscat advanced forward before having his shot from distance ending over Cassar's posts.
The Referee's half-time whistle found the Stripes heading to their dressing room leading thanks to Maachi's strike after just twelve minutes.
The Second Half
There was a slow start to the second half, as both teams struggled to keep their first half's rhythm. The Stripes remained enjoying an edge as their penetration on the wings continued to be vital in their bid of doubling the lead.
The Stripes had their first scoring opportunity eleven minutes into the second half. Maachi, collected a long ball from Vukanac, and served Camenzuli, who saw his up-rising shot from inside the box ending over the bar.
Birkirkara created another fine opportunity just past the hour mark. Maachi, served by Agius, dribbled past his marker to unleash a fierce strike from outside the box, that scratched past the far post with Cassar beaten.
The Stripes were unlucky not to double their lead twenty minutes into the second half. Maachi delivered an excellent cross in the path of Shodiya, who had his header denied by the woodwork.
Coach Paul Zammit utilised his first substitution on the sixty-ninth minute, when Ryan Scicluna was replaced by Edward Herrera. Herrera's inclusion brought no tactical changes as he replaced Scicluna on the right wing.
The excellent combination of Maachi and Shodiya was visible throughout the match, but on the seventy-sixth minute it proved to be crucial once again. Shodiya collected a fine through ball by Herrera, and served Maachi ,who had a routine task of scoring his second goal of the day.
Maachi was unlucky not to complete his hat-trick. The Birkirkara striker was the protagonist once again when his header smashed against the crossbar, after being served by Nikola Vukanac. From the rebound, Mazzetti had a fierce strike ending just over the bar.
This was Maachi's last action, as undoubtedly one of the best players of the match, was substituted by Kurt Zammit ten minutes from time. Zammit was deployed down the left flank.
Zammit had the perfect inclusion, as on the eighty-third minute he reached another significant milestone in his career by scoring his first goal with the Senior Team. He made an excellent solo-action, when he went past three players and concluded with a powerful shot that beat Cassar.
Four minutes from time, another Under-19's Team player, Leon Muscat was handed his debut with the Senior Team, when he replaced midfielder Paul Fenech who also enjoyed a very good match.
The Referee, from the Georgia Football Association, blew the full-time whistle, and the Stripes booked their place in the last four of the Malta FA Trophy, thanks to a comfortable victory.
BIRKIRKARA: Justin Haber, Zach Muscat, Mauricio Mazzetti, Nikola Vukanac, Ryan Camenzuli, Edmond Agius, Paul Fenech (86' Leon Muscat), Rowen Muscat, Ryan Scicluna (69' Edward Herrera), Nassir Maachi (80' Kurt Zammit), Shola Shodiya.
PIETA: David Cassar, Cain Attard, Christian Grech, Leonardo Fortunato, Jurgen Pisani, Orosco Anonam (46' Dylon Agius), Kyle Cesare, Rafael Rodriguez, Charles Newuchi (65' Gabriel Joao Da Silva), Claudio Frances, Ricardo Costa.
Referee: George Kruashivli.
Yellow Cards: 75' Edmond Agius (Birkirkara), 23' Orosco Anonam, 50' Kyle Cesare, 80' Leanordo Fortunato, 82' Gabriel Da Silva, 90' Cain Attard.
Scorers: 12', 76' Nassir Maachi, 83' Kurt Zammit.
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